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Contact E J Rogers, Tournament Coordinator by e-mail  at erogers@comcast.net or by phone at 281-468-7440

Please join us for the release
Saturday, March 6, 2010
10:00 a.m.
The Dr. Ned & Fay Dudney Clear Creek Nature Center
in League City, TX
On Egret Bay Blvd (FM 270) between Nasa Rd. 1 and FM 518

In April of 2009, Samson and his mate appeared at a next box constructed on the top of the Engineering and Mechanical Sciences Building on the campus of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. We know this because the nest box was constantly monitored via webcam. The nest box was constructed at that site a year earlier in hopes that peregrines would eventually make use of it.  Over the course of several days, Samson’s mate laid 4 eggs. You can only imagine how excited the students of the University of Wisconsin and researchers were as they followed the family’s progress. Mom incubated the eggs, but sometimes Samson took a turn. The eggs began to hatch on May 16. All four of the chicks survived and flourished. On June 8, the humans came and banded the legs of all of his offspring. They grew strong and fledged – the circle was complete.

We know that Samson migrated to Houston for the winter because he was delivered to the WR&E Wildlife Center extremely emaciated. Triage found a badly damaged wing.  Digital x-ray examination indicated that there were three fractures of the wing between the “wrist” and “elbow”. The fragments were realigned and the wing was wrapped. The prognosis is mixed, he will live, but the chances that he will regain full use of the wing are slim. WR&E will ensure he has a good life with us as an Education Ambassador or is placed with a well respected zoo.

But what happened to his mate? Mated pairs usually travel together, but if they don’t it is usually the male that doesn’t migrate. So it is safe to say she probably is here somewhere. Was she watching as her mate was scooped from the ground by a human? Even if the nesting box is used again this spring, we won’t know if it is her because she wasn’t banded. But we can hope.

The Peregrine Falcon was considered extinct east of the Mississippi during the mid-60’s. Efforts to reintroduce peregrine falcons, especially in urban areas where pigeons are plentiful have been very successful. For more information about this effort in general and Samson in particular, visit the University of Wisconsin.

Click here  for more information

Click here for more information

All four of the brown pelicans were emaciated and debilitated due to parasites and the freezing temperatures. The Wildlife Center medicated and fed these animals for over four weeks. It cost over $1000 in fish to bring these animals back to good health. If you would like to contribute to their care please click the DONATE button on the top bar.

Join us
Saturday, February 20, 2010
10:00 a.m.
Under the Kemah Bridge on the Seabrook side (north side of the channel on Highway 146).

Directions to release site:

Take I-45 S (Gulf Freeway) to NASA Road I / Nasa Parkway
Due to construction, the NASA Road I exit has been combined with the Bay Area Blvd. Exit (Exit #26) you can exit Bay Area Blvd. and follow the feeder road south to NASA Road I where you will turn left (east).

OR

You can take a short cut by using the NASA Road I – Webster Bypass – Go past the Bay Area Blvd. Exit, the freeway will rise to overpass NASA Road I, the exit for the Bypass marked by a temporary sign on the side of the road. Ignore any exit signs for NASA Road I or NASA Parkway and continue straight. It will reconnect with NASA Road I just east of Egret Bay Blvd.

At the intesection with Highway 146 turn right (south). You will see the Kemah Bridge rising in front of you. The exit to go under the bridge is on the right, just before the bridge starts.

WR&E announces its first Oiled Wildlife Response Workshop of 2010

Click here for more information

Great Horned Owls don’t build nests from scratch; instead they often improve upon abandoned crow or squirrel nests. Rescuers found one owlet on the ground. The other owlet was still in a partially destroyed nest. The parents of our newest patient either didn’t select a stable base or didn’t perform sufficient renovations. The remaining owlet is in danger of falling also.

The owlet at the center has been checked out and there are no broken bones, he just needs a little weight on him.  The damage to the nest means that the owlet at the Wildlife Center cannot be returned. It also means that the remaining owlet is in danger. Plans are currently being evaluated that would provide a new nesting platform in the same tree so that the parents can safely raise both of their babies.

Last year, WR&E successfully renested a baby Great Horned Owl. The parents had made their nest in the pine needles that had collected in the valley of a steep roof. Thanks again to CenterPoint Energy for the lift! To read about it go to the “Topics of Interest” drop down list on the right side of any website page and click on “Great Horned Owl”.

Birds in general and raptors in particular show a preference for their home territory and often will return to the same tree or nesting box. The homeowner has called to say that the Great Horned Owls are nesting on her roof again this year. We are keeping our fingers crossed that heavy rain doesn’t sweep another owlet from the roof.

Reading X-rays can sometimes be very tricky. Medical professionals receive extensive training, but any layman can see what’s wrong with this Muscovy duck. Not only is the hook well imaged, it is so good you can see the barb! The duck is continuing to recover at the Wildlife Center after surgical removal of the hook.

Words fail when we try to express our gratitude. With the possible exception of the microscope, an x-ray is the most valuable diagnostic tool available to medical professionals. This X-ray allowed Dr. Flores the precision she needed to remove the hook with minimum damage to surrounding tissue.

The fact that the X-ray machine is digital is extremely important because we can e-mail the image to any veterinarian with internet access for an instant diagnosis! In addition, the image can be manipulated (zoom / lighten /darken) just like a photograph or false colors can be assigned to increase the contrast.

Many require heroic efforts by the vets and volunteers. Most require attention, hydration, nutrition and medication every 30 to 60 minutes until stabilized. Not all can be saved, but at least they pass peacefully, warm, fed and without pain. Caring for these challenging patients is very expensive; recuperation requires numerous medications and specialized diets. Rehabilitation of these animals is slow and prolonged.

This past week was very busy at the WR&E Wildlife Center. Intakes included several Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, Red Tailed Hawks and Red-shouldered Hawks. The Eastern Screech Owls continue to come to the Wildlife Center in large numbers as did a Great Horned Owl and Barn Owl. The Wildlife Center is also receiving orphaned baby ducks, opossums, squirrels and injured songbirds.

This Peregrine Falcon was found in Texas City at the BP plant where he was probably chasing pigeons and flew into a power line. He underwent surgery at the Wildlife Center for his severely injured wing. He is recovering well, but the injury was serious enough that he may not be releasable. If not, he will become an Education Ambassador or be placed with a zoo.

Patient Update: Three Red-shouldered Hawks have improved enough that they have been moved to a large flight cage for flight conditioning.  One of these is the hawks has already appeared in this blog, it was the one that shattered an apartment window and had his neck and esophagus stitched.

Conditioning Flight cages are 50 to 75 feet long. Sometimes, 2 of these flight cages will be placed next to each other and connected at one end forming a U. This configuration allows segregation of birds into each of the individual flight cages or the cages can be opened to each other to force the birds to negotiate turns and banking in addition to straight line flight.